Obiano visits Buhari, begs for Igbo appointments

Willy Obiano, Anambra state governor, on Friday, paid a visit to Muhammadu Buhari, president-elect, at his residence in Abuja, assuring him of the support of the south-east as well as asking for appointments for Ndigbo in the incoming administration.

Fielding questions from journalists on the purpose of his visit, Obiano said: “Well, I came to congratulate His Excellency, the president-elect, on his victory, and I am also here to reassure him that Anambra and the southeast would support him.

“I also pleaded with him on some pressing problems that are of importance to the south-east, like the second Niger Bridge and some of the federal roads. We also pleaded in the area of appointments for the people of Anambra and of course for people from the south-east, be it ministerial, ambassadorial and what have you. So, basically, it is to congratulate the president elect on his well deserved victory.”

Responding to a question on whether he was pro-change, Obiano admitted that he had embraced the “change” that was sweeping across the country.

“I am a very focused governor. Under my tenure, I brought change in the area of security in Anambra state and I will always support things that would bring change to improve the well-being of Ndi Anambra and Nigeria as a whole. So yes,” he said.

However, he said he would remain in the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and work with the Buhari government.

“I will remain with APGA and work very closely with Mr President,” he said, adding that he was in touch with All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders from the south-east in respect of appointments for the zone.

“Yes, most of them have actually paid a courtesy call on me and yes we are talking and I suspect that the president is not going to give appointments to only people from his party because everybody would support him and so he has to consider people from the other parties so that we can all embrace the change.”